Elden Ring Bosses Ranked by Difficulty

With the recent release of the long awaited Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, all eyes are back on Elden Ring, the latest installment in FromSoftware’s ‘Soulslike’ lineup. Since its release in 2022, Elden Ring’s difficulty has been long debated by fans – some have cited the game as the easiest in FromSoftware’s history, given the freedom allowed to players to wander off the set path and level up their character as they please. Others could not disagree more, and crown Elden Ring as the most difficult Soulslike there is. 

One thing is for certain though – Elden Ring’s bosses are not to be taken lightly. With their non-stop aggression, hefty health bars, and formidable movesets, each of the boss fights across the Lands Between all pose their own unique challenges to even the most veteran of Soulslike players. But which bosses are the most challenging? For this list, we’ve ranked the 20 most difficult bosses in Elden Ring, whittled down from a whopping number of over 200 total boss fights. This list will also include bosses from the aforementioned Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, which in itself introduced many new, intimidating names to the boss lineup. Without further ado, let’s get into the list!

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20. Lichdragon Fortissax

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Don’t let the first entry on our list fool you – this massive winged beast is far from a small challenge. In fact, every entry on this list is likely to make that infamous ‘You Died’ text flash on the screen more than a few times. Lichdragon Fortissax is one of those bosses who’s size and stature alone is enough to throw off many players’ game plans. His menacing appearance is even more bolstered by the fact that his boss fight is a surprise. This fight is hidden away in Deeproot Depths, and is easily missable if you happen to kill a certain character before completing their questline.

As well as his difficulty, Fortissax easily claims a title as one of the most visually stunning bosses Elden Ring has to offer. The move where he rears up on two legs and begins to wield tridents of lightning is a feast for the eyes. Unfortunately, when he decides to throw this lightning at you, it’s your health that gets feasted on. This dragon can hit hard, and this, combined with the constant rain of lightning bolts around him make this one of the most spectacular and thrilling fights in the game – but also, a steep challenge, especially if you wander into him unsuspectingly.

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19. Fire Giant

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FromSoftware has long entertained the idea of ‘what if your small character took on a giant behemoth?’, but Elden Ring’s Fire Giant is one of the first times that that idea has felt so fully realised. Appropriately located in the Mountaintops of the Giants, the Fire Giant’s first phase is mostly a battle of you against feet, as you slash and shave away what remains of the Giant’s weakened left ankle. Admittedly, this phase isn’t too tough to deal with – though if he manages to get hits in on you, you’ll be dashing away at top speed to heal the huge chunk he’ll take from your health bar.

It’s the second phase of this goliathan duel that earns the Giant a spot on this list. In a monstrosity that only FromSoftware could conjure up, the Fire Giant spawns another face on his abdomen – and it just so happens that this new face can spit fire. Your previous fight against feet now turns to a battle against shins, as you continue to desperately hack away at the legs of a gigantic malformation who is now rolling around, taking massive swings at you with his huge arms, and of course, shooting fire at you in just about every way you can imagine. His hits may be predictable enough to telegraph, but even the smallest mistake will have you right back at the bosses’ starting gate, earning the Fire Giant a solid place on this Elden Ring boss list.

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18. Godskin Duo

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If you are at all worried about facing these guys, feel free to use your summons, as they will negate most of the difficulty of this fight. For those Elden Ring players out there who refuse to indulge in the summon system, however, these guys are an absolute nightmare. Gank fights have rarely gone well in FromSoftware’s history, and this duo are no exception to the rule, and though their shared health bar may initially seem like a saving grace, their ability to revive each other shortly after death will have many fans wishing they had just separated them from the get-go.

To sum this fight up, earlier in the game, you will take on the Godskin Apostle, and the Godskin Noble, each in their own fight. These fights are not easy, and both are formidable foes in their own right. So now, take those two fights, shove them in a relatively small room with you, and watch the chaos unfold. Unfortunately, the difficulty of this fight is ultimately frustrating rather than feeling like a healthy challenge, so I encourage you to use those summons – it’s only evening the odds! Undeniably one of my least favourite boss fights in the game, but its difficulty (artificial or not) gets it a spot on this list nonetheless.

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17. Putrescent Knight

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As an optional boss within the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, many players may go through their entire Elden Ring journey without encountering this horse and knight combo. Those players that have, however, will know that this duo are quite the force to be reckoned with, mainly due to how unpredictable its movements are. It also often uses those movements to dodge far away from you, leaving you sprinting across its boss arena to catch it, only for it to dodge away again.

Many players will opt for those dodges rather than baiting the knight’s aggression, as when it gets to attacking, it attacks hard. It also takes advantage of one of the most feared attack variations in Soulslike history – the delayed attack. All in all, this boss is a tricky one, and I highly recommend you take advantage of its weakness to holy damage to give you the upper hand. You may want to get used to using some ranged spells to, as its tendency to dash away from you constantly makes this a terrifyingly uphill battle for melee combatants.

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16. Margit, The Fell Omen

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If you’re following an Elden Ring boss order, then the first name on the list will likely be this…man? Though his fight is technically optional, as you can bypass the area he is guarding entirely, Margit is the first of the main bosses Elden Ring offers, and many players will naturally stumble upon him if they follow the game’s directions – and that is where his challenge lies. One might expect Limgrave bosses to be lightweight, given it is the first area players explore, but Margit proves that there’s no comfort to be found in the early game.

Surprisingly aggressive for his location, and incredibly hard-hitting, Margit has likely claimed the title of the boss that cuts many Elden Ring players’ journeys short, before they’ve even begun. The main advice here is to not be greedy – you’ll probably only be able to hit Margit once, maybe twice, in the gaps in his offense, and if you try for more hits than that, you’ll be the one on the receiving end of the damage. The precision required to beat him, in both attacking and defending, combined with his placement so early in the game makes Margit a formidable foe – it’s not surprising that many players bowed out of the Lands Between early when they showed down with The Fell Omen.

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15. Divine Beast Dancing Lion

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Making its debut in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, Divine Beast Dancing Lion is one of those bosses that you just wish would calm down for a minute. This boss, despite its size, is fast, constantly leaping, spinning, and, of course, dancing. This beast also happens to be the next Avatar, as it seems to have mastered control of just about every element you can think of, combining lightning, ice, and wind into its rapidfire offense. Trying to find a moment to strike at this boss is one of its biggest challenges, and your fight against it is going to be a test of endurance more than anything else.

Like many other bosses in Elden Ring, this creature has an impressive design, and visually, the fight is a treat to watch. However, the boss’s visual design often means that its attacks are nearly impossible to predict – it just never moves like it physically should! As one of the earliest bosses found in the DLC, this beast is a real skill check for players, as well as a sign of the incredibly difficult things to come.

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14. Mohg, Lord of Blood

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Mohg can be found, as you might expect, in Mohgwyn Palace. This area is entirely optional, though you will need to defeat him to access the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. Armed with a giant trident, blood magic, and sprouting huge wings that let him fly through the air in his second phase, Mohg is a force to be reckoned with, and one of the bosses that I took the most deaths to in my first run through the game. The transition into his second phase melting away at your health as he chants Latin into the sky, combined with his second phase where he sprays bloodflame across the arena with every attack makes Mohg an extremely difficult fight, particularly if you don’t come equipped with bleed resistance.

Mohg is another boss that can sometimes punish melee-exclusive fighters. As he takes to the sky, it can be very useful to have some ranged spells equipped to help you take him down. Otherwise, be ready to frantically dodge not only his swings, but also the resulting elemental hazards he creates in his environment in their aftermath. With the release of Shadow of the Erdtree, Mohg has become a sort of gatekeeper to the difficult expansion, making him an appropriate test of skill. Before this DLC release, however, Mohg felt like a disproportionate challenge, one that I was glad was optional on subsequent runs through Elden Ring.

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13. Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame

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The Midra fight begins with you absolutely whaling on a fairly helpless old man – when the fight then takes on its real form, Midra quickly makes you regret these actions. As his head bursts into a Frenzied Flame, and he begins to effortlessly wield a greatsword, the fight becomes a masterclass in intimidating the player. His melee attacks hit hard, making getting his timing down an absolute necessity to survive against him. What hits harder than his melee attacks, however, are his terrifying AoE explosions, as well as his ranged attacks to snipe you across the arena.

As is to be expected from a boss named after the Frenzied Flame, Midra’s attacks also inflict the madness status effect on your character, adding a layer of danger to even getting clipped by one of his treacherous swings. Like many other bosses in Elden Ring, Midra can be an incredibly fun, and almost melodious boss, if you get the timing down. The journey to get that timing down, however, is where many players will struggle, as getting hit in this boss fight is unforgiving, and with a constant madness build-up weighing on the back of your mind, this boss also adds a psychological element to his battle. The fight is very enjoyable though, and though he is optional, I recommend players don’t shy away from the challenge he presents.

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12. Hoarah Loux, Warrior

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Hoarah Loux is absolutely terrifying, if you can’t tell from the above image. Undoubtedly one of the most challenging Elden Ring mandatory bosses, Hoarah Loux is an absolute monster, and mixes all sorts of different fighting styles together to take you down. Beginning the fight as Godfrey, First Elden Lord, this boss hits extremely hard, though thankfully this means that a lot of his attacks are telegraphed. Stamina will be the name of the game here, as if you don’t have enough to dodge out of his way, he’ll easily claim chunks of your health bar at a time.

Then, when his health drops halfway, he will transform into Hoarah Loux, Warrior, ditching his axe and becoming the most terrifying pro-wrestler you’ve ever seen. Players will need to remain active throughout this entire phase until he is defeated, as this guy loves to go for grab moves – and many of those grab moves can one shot you if you haven’t pumped enough runes into the vigor stat. Particularly in his second phase, Hoarah Loux is a master of instilling panic in players, and gamers will need to keep a cool head to come out victorious over this late game Elden Ring boss.

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11. Valiant Gargoyles

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Here they are – my least favourite boss fight in the entirety of Elden Ring. The only saving grace for these guys is that they are an optional boss, so it’s not necessary to suffer through this encounter unless you’re going for full exploration. Remember everything I said about the Godskin Duo? Take all of that, and apply it to this fight, where the enemies are massive, extremely hard-hitting gargoyle enemies, which on their own make many players cower away from them when you find them in the wild.

Be sure to bring a summon with you to this fight, unless you want to spend the entirety of the fight getting hit from the back while you engage in your fiercest battle – the war against Elden Ring’s camera. Oh, I should also mention that these gargoyles enjoy occasionally hunching over and exhaling poison across the arena in front of them – so you’ll also have to likely contend with a constantly decreasing health bar as a result of the poison in this fight. There’s little more to say about this fight other than it’s a nightmare of a battle, and I’ve only ever taken it on in my first playthrough. After that, it’s simply not worth the effort.

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10. Commander Gaius

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The Valiant Gargoyles may be my least favourite fight in the game, but I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a boss get as much negative backlash as Commander Gaius since his appearance in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. Potentially the most aggressive boss in Elden Ring, Gaius doesn’t give you a second to breathe as you take him, and his giant boar on. Reaching almost ridiculous levels of aggression, combined with insanely tight dodge roll windows, Gaius is a nightmarish fight – though it is luckily hidden away at the end of a legacy dungeon, and is optional.

If the brute damage of his strikes wasn’t enough in the first phase, Gaius introduces gravity magic attacks in his second phase, as well as imbuing his already vicious attacks with magic damage. Be prepared to dodge, dodge, and dodge some more, as you take on this beastmaster. Unfortunately, this is another one of those bosses that feels like they lean into artificial difficulty rather than feeling like an authentically challenging fight. Again, don’t be afraid to use those summons to take some of his attention off of you – if nothing else, it will give you a moment to breathe.

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9. Dragonlord Placidusax

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Hidden away in one of the most secret arenas in Elden Ring, Dragonlord Placidusax is one of my favourite fights in the game in every way – though that doesn’t mean I love taking him on. He is a stunning boss, in a beautiful arena. Placidusax harkens back to the moveset that Fortissax used, except Placidusax is a lot angrier. As is to be expected from a massive dragon boss, Placidusax hits extremely hard in his first phase, and players will have to be cautious not to get too greedy with him.

The second phase is where it all hits the fan. This beast takes to the skies, attacking the player from storm clouds around the arena. He begins breathing fire, summoning lightning bolts, and swinging his massive body around like there’s no tomorrow. He also has a laser attack which, to my knowledge, has one of the highest damage counts in the entire game if it hits – so there’s that. The run back to the fight after death is also pretty long, raising the stakes if the player wants to avoid too much frustration with subsequent tries. It’s not hard to see why Placidusax earns a spot on this list, but if any doubts remain, seek him out in Crumbling Farum Azula. He is unfortunately very missable, and his challenge is one any Elden Ring player should experience.

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8. Bayle The Dread

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Placidusax is not, however, the most difficult dragon boss fight in Elden Ring. No, that title was quickly claimed by another monster upon the release of Shadow of the Erdtree when the community was introduced to Bayle The Dread. Found in the crater of the Jagged Peak, this beast is, as this game likes to do, surprisingly fast for its size. The typical dragon attacks make their re-appearance here – fire, lightning, big stomps, and of course, taking to the skies in some of the most intimidating, crashing down attacks in the game.

Luckily, for this fight, it’s actually encouraged that you summon a friend – but not your typical Mimic Tear. An NPC named Igon has some history with Bayle The Dread, to the point that summoning him to assist in this fight actually lets him show off some unique dialogue, and all in all, Igon’s presence not only helps with the fight, but enhances the experience overall. Igon is really the only thing that can help with this fight though – Bayle is unrelenting, and is undeniably one of the steepest obstacles offered in Elden Ring.

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7. Starscourge Radahn

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Starscourge Radahn’s position as a major boss of Caelid, one of Elden Ring’s most unforgiving areas, should indicate what a threat this warrior poses to any player. The lead-up to this boss is also incredibly ominous. Some of the most renowned champions across the Lands Between gather at a festival in a corner of the Elden Ring map, a celebration dedicated entirely to hunting down Radahn and trying to best him. As you summon all of these warriors into battle, and brace yourself for close to a 10v1, you soon realise that numbers mean nothing when taking on a beast like Radahn.

Radahn is a threat that players have likely not encountered the likes of before taking him on. Mounted on a comically tiny horse (which I feel really bad for), Radahn wields two giant swords and swings them violently, melting your health bar if you happen to get hit. If you try to put some distance between you and him, he will shoot hordes of arrows into the sky, all of which come raining down on you. And that’s just the first phase. The second phase sees him take to the sky, come crashing down on you like a really scary meteor, and then start shooting rocks at you using gravity magic, which will probably kill you in one hit if you decide to block them with your face. Long story short, Radahn is terrifying, though the uniqueness of his battle makes him a worthwhile boss fight.

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6. Radagon of the Golden Order

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As is to be expected, the final boss of Elden Ring is also one of the game’s most challenging battles. Radagon’s first phase is essentially a difficult, duel-style fight, where he will frequently lunge towards you with a glowing arm – if you get caught by this, be ready to restart the fight, as it’s likely game over. He is equipped with a golden hammer, which he uses in various ways to inflict damage on you – and all of his hits take great chunks out of your health, making precise dodging key. 

This fight will also be a test of endurance, as you have to defeat not only Radagon, but also the Elden Beast, which is essentially his second phase, as dying to the Beast will place you back before the Radagon fight. The Elden Beast is not an overwhelmingly difficult fight, but his attacks hit hard, and dashing across the huge arena to hit him, while avoiding his gargantuan attacks can be quite the challenge. Luckily, as the final boss of the game, defeating Radagon and the Beast is quite the satisfying achievement, ending your Elden Ring journey on a difficult, tiring, but all the same, thrilling high.

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5. Rellana, Twin Moon Knight

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If there’s one thing to know before taking on Rellana, it’s that she will not stop swinging. No matter how long you think her combos will be, they will always be longer. To come out on top, you’ll need the patience of a saint, as you let Rellana swing, and swing, and swing those two swords she wields. Make sure to take advantage of every opening you can, because Rellana doesn’t leave herself open often, and if you dash in at the wrong time, you could get caught up in one of those endless combos.

This fight would be difficult enough if it were only her swords that were the problem, but Rellana also dives into the realm of magic damage to dish out more punishment on players. Her fire sword will, as you might expect, inflict fire damage, while she can use her magic sword to cast spells and inflict magic damage. She can also turn into the moon and crash into the ground, which will nearly insta-kill your character if it hits – so, make sure to avoid that. After a lot of practice, taking her down will become a possibility, but Rellana is undoubtedly one of the steepest challenges in Elden Ring.

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4. Maliketh, The Black Blade

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Maliketh is another one of our favourite types of bosses in Elden Ring – two-phase bosses, with a name change in between phases, to let you know they mean business. Maliketh is a story mandatory boss, and boy, is he a challenge. The fight begins against the Beast Clergyman, a dangerous opponent, who shouldn’t be underestimated based on his existence as a first phase. It’s when the second phase emerges that players should get very worried though. Maliketh is a chaotic enemy, constantly jumping into the air to rain down attacks on the player, tossing incredibly dangerous ranged attacks, and swinging the titular black blade with unrivaled ferocity.

You can also fall through the floor of the arena in this fight, which adds a layer of environmental challenge that I don’t much appreciate. On top of this, any hits he lands with his sword will reduce the player’s max health, directly countering your stats. Maliketh is a frantic challenge like no other, and especially considering he is one of the Elden Ring mandatory bosses, he is likely a headache for many Elden Ring players. Be prepared as you enter his arena at the end of Crumbling Farum Azula, the home to many a tough Elden Ring boss.

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3. Messmer, The Impaler

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Advertised as the face of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, Messmer does not disappoint when it comes to boss difficulty. Found in a chamber of the Shadow Keep, Messmer begins the fight by attacking you with everything he’s got – he’s not a man who paces himself. His spear gives him terrifying range, and players should stay close to him to avoid its reach, despite how intimidating that idea may sound. He also enjoys grabbing at players, which will once again, like many other grabs in Elden Ring, probably insta-kill you – so watch out for that.

And, of course, when you do eventually manage to whittle his health down, he will undergo a transformation, turning into Base Serpent Messmer. Messmer draws on the help of the Abyssal Serpent to not only enhance his original moveset, but add a plethora of new attacks to his arsenal, making him more deadly than ever before. This fight is extremely challenging, as is appropriate for a late-game DLC boss, and any player who can conquer him should be proud of their achievement.

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2. Promised Consort Radahn

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What’s more challenging than a late-game DLC boss? The final DLC boss of course! Now, imagine if that final DLC boss was a formidable base-game boss in his own right, and you have Promised Consort Radahn, a titanic fight that likely will find its way to the number one spot on many lists like this. Radahn, in his first phase, will utilise gravity and blood magic to whale on you, and you’ll need to be constantly aware of his slashes to dodge and weave your way around his attacks.

The second phase is pure chaos – there’s really no better word to describe it. Radahn’s attacks will become enhanced with holy damage, and with the aid of Miquella, constant light beams will accompany his attacks. He also gets one of our favourite attacks – an insta-kill grab. Many players have jumped to name this fight unfair, and I can see why. There’s a certain amount of RNG involved in coming out triumphant here, which is an artificiality that has kept Promised Consort Radahn from claiming the number one spot on the list – though if I can compliment anything about him, he looks very cool, particularly in his second phase, with Miquella supporting him.

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1. Malenia, Blade of Miquella

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Before the arrival of Promised Consort Radahn with Shadow of the Erdtree brought this boss’ status into debate, Malenia headed practically every Elden Ring boss difficulty ranking. And maybe it’s just me, but I don’t believe that Radahn has stolen her crown. Spawning endless conversations about the difficulty of FromSoftware games overall, making veteran players dedicate entire accounts to solo killing her, and generating meme after meme of rage quits from her boss fight, Malenia has earned quite the reputation in the world of FromSoftware bosses, and for good reason. It seems like any relation to Miquella in this game just makes your difficulty skyrocket.

Tucked away at the base of the Haligtree lies Elden Ring’s most challenging boss, a fight which will test your mastery of just about every element of the game’s gameplay mechanics. Malenia will throw everything possible at you – intensely fast sword slashes, a waterfowl dance move which seems nigh impossible to dodge completely, flying sweep attacks, and the dreaded scarlet rot mechanic, which is essentially poison, but more detrimental to your health. Oh, and every hit Malenia lands on you will restore her health, so any slip ups will not only damage you, but reward her. Malenia has more than earned her reputation as the most difficult boss in Elden Ring, and perhaps even the most difficult boss in FromSoftware’s history.

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Conclusion

Elden Ring is an incredible game, filled with some of the most impressive boss fights in the franchise’s history – as well as some of the hardest. Do you agree with our ranking? Which boss in Elden Ring gave you the most trouble, and what do you make of the game’s difficulty overall when compared with the other FromSoftware Soulslikes? Be sure to let us know in the comments, and thanks for reading!

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